The largest Ultra4 race in the country has several
competitors from right here in Salt Lake City. The King of Hammers off-road race was held on public lands in Johnson Valley, California, Feb. 4–10.
The event includes motocross, UTV, every man’s challenge and professional
division races.

“I have been down to help other drivers and watch several
times,” said Matt Murphy, better known as ‘Murf
Dog’ by his friends and competitors. “This will be my first time as a
driver. I do not have any experience as a driver.”

Murf Dog is from West Jordan and races his brand-new,
custom-built Jeep in the 4800 class of the Ultra4 racing series. The King of Hammers
is the opening race of the season held each year in the California desert. It
is considered the Super Bowl of off-road racing.

Murf Dog qualified eighth-fastest in his class. He
finished in 9 hours and 41 minutes. His race was marred by a flat tire right at
the beginning that he never recovered from.

Robby Flandro, or Captain Rob as he is known to his
friends, finished just 16 minutes past his cut off time, but officials are
reviewing his placement because he stopped to help a driver with an emergency
fuel leak. Flandro is from West Valley and competes in the 4800 class.

“(King of Hammers) was awesome to see. We wandered around
and watched the races all week. I can’t wait to go again next year,”
Taylorsville residents Louie Herold and Ed Rappleye said almost simultaneously,
talking about their trip to the race. “We just acted like we knew what was
going on and had lots of fun.”

The race began in 2007 as a dream by its founders Jeff
Knoll and Dave Cole. The competitors start side by side, two vehicles every 30
seconds. Each team must pass through several checkpoints and can never stray
more than 100 feet of centerline on the race course. The driver with the
fastest elapsed time is declared the winner.

The race attracts tens of thousands of fans, racers and
sponsors to the two-week-long event. The dry lake bed becomes a thriving city.
Mechanics, racers and fans roam from car hauler to temporary garage. Each one
preparing his car for the 100-mile grueling off road desert race. The event is
broadcast over a live internet feed to more than a half a million viewers each
year.

The course is outlined for competitors through GPS
coordinates. It combines stretches of dry lake bed. The cars can reach speeds
of 100 mph. It also includes rock climbing through mountainous terrain.

“Each racer has a time limit to complete the course,”
Murphy said. “I think the rocks are going to be the hardest part. I just hope I
can finish. I figure I have about $120,000 into my car.”

The race has evolved from 12 cars racing for bragging
rights to more than 300 teams registered for the event this year. Cars from
around the world have been shipped in to participate. It has become the largest
off-road race in North America.

“This is my first time driving King of Hammers,” said
Taylorsville resident Rawlin McGhie. “I have worked two other times as a pit
crew. I am just going to try to keep the car together and finish. I have so
many sponsors and friends that take time off work to come and help me.”

McGhie was the 2016 Dirt Riot National Series point
champion. He raced in the 4400 class. He did not finish the event after he lost
power steering. He drove the car nearly 26 miles using his winch to steer the
car but was unable to make the repairs to resume the race.

“It was not the race we had envisioned,” McGhie said. “We
will be back next year better prepared for sure.”

Shannon Campbell from Gilbert, Arizona, was the overall
winner. He finished the course in 6 hours 46 minutes.